© 2015 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
(May 11) – Jeff Chapman gets two scoops with a cherry on top for his M&A work this week.
The Dallas-based partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher led Dean Foods Company’s $155 million purchase of Friendly’s Ice Cream, the manufacturing and retail ice cream business of the Friendly’s restaurant chain.
After the anticipated late second quarter closing date, Dean Foods will also acquire the Friendly’s trademark and all intellectual property associated with the ice cream business.
The all-cash transaction will expand Dallas-based Dean Foods’ national footprint in the manufacturing and retail ice cream businesses. Friendly’s Restaurants is a leading ice cream and dining brand in the Northeast U.S and has more than 260 locations.
In addition to Chapman, the Gibson Dunn corporate team included Dallas associates Jonathan Whalen and Mark Jackson. Other Dallas-based attorneys on the deal team included tax partner David Sinak and associate Michael Cannon and employee benefits associate Krista Hanvey.
Attorneys from Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles and New York offices advised on environmental, real estate and intellectual property matters.
Friendly’s turned to attorneys from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius’ Philadelphia office to lead its end of the deal.
Rothschild served as Dean Foods’ financial advisor. Lazard Middle Market represented Friendly’s Ice Cream.
© 2014 The Texas Lawbook. Content of The Texas Lawbook is controlled and protected by specific licensing agreements with our subscribers and under federal copyright laws. Any distribution of this content without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.
If you see any inaccuracy in any article in The Texas Lawbook, please contact us. Our goal is content that is 100% true and accurate. Thank you.